Central Europe

TIRANA, 24 October 2019 – While Albania looks to Europe for its future, our history, geography and economy are rooted in the Mediterranean region, stated today in Tirana Albania’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Gent Cakaj, while opening 2019 OSCE Mediterranean Conference.

“We can make a difference within the Mediterranean Partnership only if we work together,” said Cakaj. “Our co-operation with the Mediterranean region is not a matter of choice anymore: it is an objective necessity.” 

During the two-day event dedicated to achievements, challenges and future opportunities for the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership, discussions focus on countering terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism; youth participation and engagement; and economic connectivity.   

“Security in Europe as a whole is inextricably linked to security in the Mediterranean area. The importance of this relationship is more than evident in the fields of trade, energy, migration and fight against terrorism,” said Cakaj. 

Cakaj stressed that co-operation with the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation is essential to better ensure a safe environment for our countries’ citizens and generating prosperity across our entire region. 

“This conviction has been governing the Mediterranean Contact Group throughout the past 25 years,” he said. “Albania’s goal this year, while chairing the Contact Group, and certainly during the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship, is to keep the Mediterranean high on the OSCE agenda and strengthen a strategic partnership with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.” 

Cakaj said that the security of Europe and the Mediterranean requires smarter investments in the economy and human capital. “Generating economic growth and developing human resources is essential in making the Mediterranean region more prosperous. We will spare no effort in working towards this objective,” he said. 

Acting Foreign Minister Cakaj, Slovak State Secretary Lukas Parižek, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Italy Marina Sereni and Secretary General of the Union for Mediterranean Nasser Kamel opened the 2019 Mediterranean Conference. 

The second day of the conference will be dedicated to the role of connectivity, digitalization, sustainable development and economic growth in advancing common security in the Mediterranean. 

Acting Foreign Minister Cakaj and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger will give closing remarks tomorrow. 

This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

On 24 October at 06:47 (Moscow time), the eighty-sixth[1] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 16 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 16 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:00 on 24 October.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 24 October at 06:47, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The convoy consisted of 16 vehicles: one escort car and 15 cargo trucks, among them: two trucks belonged to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) other 13 were civilian trucks. Two cargo trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation” (in Russian). At 06:47, the vehicles entered the customs control area. Once the convoy arrived, the vehicles were visually checked from the outside by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers. The truck drivers rolled up/opened the tarpaulins of the trucks and the border guards and customs officials performed a visual observation from the outside. Two dogs were present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside.

Two Ukrainian border guards and two customs officers were observed accompanying their Russian counterparts; they also performed a visual observation of the vehicles from the outside (without entering the trucks’ cargo space). They had clipboards in their hands and were taking notes. By 07:10, all of the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine. During the crossing one Russian Federation border guard took photos of the procedure.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 13:40, the convoy returned and queued in the customs area. The Russian Federation border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and three customs officers – were present during this check. The Ukrainian officials also performed visual checks of the trucks from the outside. Two dogs were present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside. By 14:00, all 16 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation. During the return of the convoy, one officer from the Ministry of Emergency Situations was present at the BCP taking photos of the procedure.

[1]Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the eighty-sixth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

Some 45 participants from Parliament, Supreme Court, government bodies, civil society and media-related NGOs participated in a roundtable discussion on access to information on 24 October 2019 in Nur-Sultan. The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan and the NGO Legal Media Centre.

The Legal Media Centre presented the findings of a  study on access to information in Kazakhstan, which was supported by the OSCE Programme Office. The participants  discussed what has changed since the recent adoption of  amendments to the country’s media law. They also examined procedures governing the release of official information held by different government agencies in Kazakhstan and analysed government bodies' publication of responses to official information requests.

An expert from the Lithuanian Union of Journalists shared experiences on how  information is made available either proactively or in response to requests and introduced some procedures governing its release in other countries.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s activities aimed at promoting media development and freedom of expression in line with OSCE principles and commitments.

436820 Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) conducted on 24 October 2019, in Sarajevo, a training course on ethical standards and disciplinary practice for judges, prosecutors and legal associates. The training was organized in co-operation with the Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centre of the Federation of BiH.

The course focused on the substance of the codes of ethics for judges and prosecutors, in order to develop the participants’ understanding of the concepts and obligations related to the codes of ethics, and conflict of interest.

“The role of ethics and the high standard of behaviour that is demanded of judicial office holders cannot be overemphasized,” stated Meriton Pajaziti, Legal Advisor at the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Given the damaging impact that non-adherence to these standards can have, the OSCE Mission to BiH is working together with the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel to address this pernicious threat. This is done through promoting adherence to the codes of ethics among judges and prosecutors.”

Mirza Hadžiomerović, Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel, stressed the importance of strengthening the theoretical and practical knowledge of judges and prosecutors in facing ethical challenges while performing their duties. „The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel is grateful to international partners, including the OSCE Mission to BiH, for acknowledging the importance of this training course and for their support in organizing it,“ he added.

Participants also had the opportunity to learn about practical examples of violations of judicial ethics and professional conduct that were subject to disciplinary procedure by the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel of the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.    

STRASBOURG, 24 October 2019 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella met yesterday in Strasbourg with Klara Dobrev, Vice President of the European Parliament, and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister, to discuss OSCE-EU relations as well as common challenges of the European continent. They agreed on the need to enhance co-operation between the OSCE PA and the European Parliament and invest more on joint projects, including on election observation and conflict prevention efforts.

“The European Union and the OSCE share the same values and in times of uncertainty it is critical that we unite our efforts to bring institutions closer to our citizens and citizens closer to institutions,” President Tsereteli said. Noting that all EU Member States are also OSCE participating States, Tsereteli emphasized the importance of the organizations working together to deepen co-operation to address common security challenges.

Vice President Dobrev expressed appreciation for the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in promoting dialogue and co-operation on security at all levels of society. Other topics of discussion included the political and security situations in Ukraine, Georgia and South-Eastern Europe.

The OSCE PA delegation held a productive meeting with Chairman McAllister, discussing challenges in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and Turkish military operations in Syria. The sides also discussed ways to enhance the fruitful co-operation between the European Parliament and OSCE PA on election observation. McAllister invited Tsereteli to address the EP Foreign Affairs Committee and in turn Tsereteli invited him to take part in an upcoming OSCE PA statutory meeting.

During a discussion on EU enlargement, the OSCE PA delegation expressed concern over the recent decision of the European Council to postpone the start of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. “I hope that despite this decision the European Union will maintain its promise to work towards the integration of the whole South East Europe and grant to those countries the European future they are pursuing,” Secretary General Montella said.

President Tsereteli and Secretary General Montella were also invited to take part in the European Parliament’s plenary session seating. On the margins, they held useful meetings with a number of MEPs from across the region and also met with former members of the OSCE PA leadership, including now Commissioner Christos Stylianides and MEPs Isabel Santos, Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Tonino Picula and Roman Haider.

Their visit to Strasbourg will continue today and tomorrow with the participation in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, hosted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where President Tsereteli will address the session on “Our common European home, the next 70 years.”

WASHINGTON D.C., 24 October 2019 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák, and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger discussed yesterday the role of international organizations and regional co-operation in preventing conflicts at an event moderated by Baroness Catherine Ashton of Upholland, Chair of the Global Europe Program of the Wilson Center and former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Asked by Baroness Ashton about the current state of international organizations, OSCE Chairperson Lajčák stressed that different organizations have unique features and expertise: “I am optimistic when it comes to effective multilateralism, as our organizations – international and regional alike – complement, rather than duplicate, each other. But there is always room for more synergy.” “Currently the potential of multilateral institutions is not fully capitalized and more political buy-in is needed.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger added that the OSCE has an effective toolbox for conflict prevention and resolution, but urged participating States to use it more systematically, particularly its inclusive platform for dialogue to help bridge the differences.

Making the case for conflict prevention, OSCE Chair Lajčák stressed that it makes sense"both financially and for our people". “The trend over the last couple of years is towards investing more into conflict prevention. In the past, international organizations intervened when there was no peace left to keep. But conflicts do not happen overnight. You can see the warning signals flashing ahead of time and we need to do more to tackle the root causes of conflict in an inclusive way. And this means doing more to ensure women’s leadership and participation, and including the voices of youth and local populations in everything we do.”

The Secretary General pointed to the OSCE’s success in conflict management, notably in Ukraine; in promoting inclusive dialogue, including in the politico-military sector; and in helping states to deal with transnational threats and to become more resilient to the root causes of conflict.

All three agreed that with the speed and scale of the challenges facing governments and people today - from transnational threats, to eroding arms control, climate change and rapid technological progress – multilateral conflict prevention and international co-operation are ever more important.

While in Washington D.C., the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker, and representatives of the international community.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM continued to observe reconstruction works of the broken section of the bridge.
• The Mission continued to observe the clearing of vegetation inside the disengagement area near Zolote. It saw military presence inside the disengagement areas near Petrivske and Zolote.
• The SMM saw for the first time anti-tank mines near Styla.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government- and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure along the contact line.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s freedom of movement continued, including at a border crossing point near and a railway station in non-government-controlled Voznesenivka.*

436766 Communication and Media Relations Section

National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs from 42 countries across the OSCE region gathered in Bratislava on 22 and 23 October 2019 for the largest annual meeting of this kind at the international level. They discussed how to address current human trafficking-related challenges and foster the implementation of international commitments, policies and standards set forth by the OSCE and the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The discussion was organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the Council of Europe, and hosted by the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship.

“In the spirit of co-operation, this meeting offers a unique regional platform to strengthen our cross-border collaboration and build meaningful partnerships,” said Lukáš Parízek, State Secretary at Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. “This resonates very well with our priorities at the OSCE as we seek to keep up with the reality of an increasingly interconnected world, while facing multiple global threats to the safety and security of our people.”

Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, said: “National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the national anti-trafficking responses, and this week we identified new opportunities for enhancing regional policies and practical actions to combat this scourge.”

Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, added: “Regular exchanges between National Anti-trafficking Coordinators and Rapporteurs of States Parties to the Convention are vital for promoting the implementation of this document, sharing information on new trends and approaches, and strengthening partnerships.”

On the first day of the meeting, participants discussed ways to enhance the protection of child victims of trafficking by means of needs-based assistance in the child’s best interests and identified measures to reduce the demand that leads to human trafficking for different exploitative purposes, including labour exploitation. The European Union’s Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator Myria Vassiliadou later addressed participants, while experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights led a discussion on the update of the National Referral Mechanism Handbook.

On the second day, participants discussed the role of the National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs in engaging civil society in anti-trafficking policy-making, prevention efforts, identifying and assisting victims of trafficking, as well as supporting victims in the course of criminal and other proceedings. Later there was a presentation on the policy recommendations by the UN’s Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons, which is currently co-chaired by the OSCE and UN Women.

VIENNA, 22 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today strongly condemned the imprisonment of Ukrainian journalist, writer and blogger Stanislav Aseev, who goes by the pen name Vasin.

According to reports of the so-called “General Prosecutor’s Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)”, in August Aseev received a 15-year prison sentence on charges of extremism, espionage and public calls for an encroachment on the “DPR’s” territorial integrity.

“I strongly denounce the imprisonment of Stanislav Aseev and I am shocked by his completely illegal conviction and sentencing to 15 years in jail. I reiterate that he must be released immediately,” Désir said.

Aseev has been a contributor to various media, including the Ukrainian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). He has been held in detention by the armed formations in the non-government-controlled area of the Donetsk region on spurious charges of espionage for Ukraine since June 2017.

The Representative further called for the release of another blogger and contributor to the Ukrainian Service of RFE/RL, Oleh Halaziuk, who has also been detained by the armed formations in the non-government-controlled area of the Donetsk region since August 2017.

“Aseev and Halaziuk were among the very few independent journalists who worked and reported from the non-government controlled area of Donetsk region. The silencing of independent journalists is a crime against the freedom of expression and it is unacceptable,” Désir said. “I again call on all OSCE participating States to increase pressure on any relevant actors to release both Aseev and Halaziuk.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, twitter @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission saw damage from gunfire to residential properties in non-government-controlled Dokuchaievsk.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM continued to observe reconstruction works of the broken section of the bridge. It also observed construction works at a parking lot south of the bridge.
• The Mission continued to observe the clearing of vegetation inside the disengagement area near Zolote. It recorded ceasefire violations near the disengagement area.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government- and non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure along the contact line.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Zaichenko, Bezimenne, Sosnivske and Shevchenko.

Emmanuel Decaux of France has been elected as new President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration on 14 October 2019 after members of the Court, appointed by the States parties to the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, were invited to elect a new Bureau of the Court for a mandate of six years. Decaux succeeds Christian Tomuschat of Germany who served in the position from 2013 to 2019.

Decaux is Professor emeritus of the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, where he taught public international law and international human rights law. He was also Director of the Doctorate School of International Law, European Law, International Relations and Comparative Law. He has published on topics of public international law and international organizations, with a focus on the peaceful settlement of disputes and human rights. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Security and Human Rights Monitor publication.

In addition to his academic career, Decaux has held several functions within the United Nations. He was a member and then President of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances between 2011 and 2019. Prior to that, he was a member of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and a member of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee.

Decaux also participated as a member of the French delegation to three meetings of the Human Dimension Conference (1989-1991) and to the first Human Dimension Implementation meetings organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Warsaw. Later he was nominated as an expert as part of the Moscow Mechanism on the Human Dimension on behalf of which he acted twice (in 2003 and 2011) as Rapporteur.

As well as electing a new President, the Court’s members also voted on new members to the Court’s Bureau. 

Tomuschat and Erkki Kourula of Finland were elected to membership of the Bureau. Following a tied vote for several candidates, a second ballot is being organized to complete the Bureau’s membership.

The elections of the President of the Court and the Bureau members were carried out in a written procedure and in line with the provisions set forth in Article 9(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court. The election process generated great interest among the appointed members entitled to cast a vote with a participation rate of 73%.

The Bureau is the Court’s executive body and consists of the President, four members (including the Vice-President) and four alternate members.

The OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration is based in Geneva. It was established in 1995 by the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration as a mechanism for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law and the OSCE commitments of the parties. Thirty-four states have now ratified the Convention. Sweden is the Depositary State of the Convention.

436556 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The OSCE Center in Ashgabat, jointly with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), organized a seminar on institutional and legislative measures to combat corruption on 21 and 22 October in Ashgabat. The event brought together representatives of different ministries and state bodies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and Economics, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Justice, the Central Bank, and the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

The seminar was part of the OSCE’s Strengthening Adherence to Good Governance Principles project. It was led by two experts from Latvia and Lithuania, who described international standards and best practices in developing anti-corruption legislation and international and inter-agency co-operation in the fight against corruption. The lecturers also discussed tools and mechanisms for the retrieval of embezzled funds and their compensation, and best practices for good governance in state procurements.

The lectures provided attendees with a number of examples of effective anti-corruption measures, as well as guidelines on methods for tackling both national and international forms of corruption.

Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, emphasized the importance of anti-corruption measures for economic and social development in her opening address, as she noted: “The fight against corruption is a key area for law-enforcement and other government bodies, which will aid the development of the local business climate and improve security”. She underlined the role of international co-operation for effective anti-corruption action, and the willingness of the OSCE to participate in and facilitate national, regional and international initiatives.

“The OSCE attaches great importance to the fight against corruption and promotion of the principles of good governance,” said Kurban Babayev, Associate Anti-Corruption Officer of the OCEEA. “Among the OSCE’s recent flagship projects in this area is the launch of its online training modules on good governance and anti-corruption aimed at providing government officials, representatives of law enforcement, private sector and civil society with all the necessary information on available legal tools, the latest legislative and policy trends, and pertinent measures and practices to prevent and suppress corruption.”

In addition to the lectures, a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented an overview of the national anti-corruption system of Turkmenistan.

VIENNA, 22 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said today that journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times. The statement followed recent incidents with several journalists covering public protests in Baku.

“Media have the right to cover public events, and journalists must be able to report in a free and safe manner, without fear of intimidation,” Désir said.

According to reports, on 19 and 20 October journalists from various media outlets, including Meydan TV, Radio Azadliq (RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service), Turan news agency, Voice of America’s Azerbaijani Service, Objective TV online channel, Azadliq newspaper, Toplum TV news platform, and some freelance reporters, were mistreated, verbally assaulted and shortly detained by the police while covering public demonstrations in Baku. Reportedly, in some instances, the journalists were affected despite being clearly identified as media.

“I deplore the incidents with journalists covering public protests in Baku and the cases of obstruction of their work, and call on the authorities to promptly investigate them and take steps to ensure restraint on the part of law enforcement representatives towards members of the media,” Désir said.

VIENNA, 22 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today following several violent incidents against journalists in Spain over the past week, as well as the arrest of a journalist on 18 October, after protests started on 14 October in Barcelona.

“I am concerned by the number of incidents and attacks against journalists while covering demonstrations in Barcelona in the past days,” said Désir. “Some of these incidents involved law enforcement officers. I call on the authorities to ensure the protection of journalists and media professionals who are covering the protests in Catalonia.”

According to local media reports, on 14 October, several journalists, who identified themselves as members of the press by wearing press armbands and vests, were injured by police during the demonstrations. These include Elise Gazengel from France 24, Pol Pareja of the website Eldiaro.es, Jordi Mumbrú from the daily Ara, Albert Salamé and Oriol Izquierdo from Vilaweb.cat, Joan Giralt, Freddy Davies and Núria Gebellí from La Directa magazine, Pau Venteo from Catalunya Radio, and Victor Asensio from Elprat TV.

On 15 October, the journalist Quico Sallés from El Mundo and the freelance photographer Sònia Calvó Carrió from eldiario.es, who identified themselves as members of the press, were physically attacked in Barcelona.  

On 16 October, the journalists Sira Esclasans from La Directa, and Carles Márquez from El Periódico were shot at by police with rubber bullets. Bru Aguiló from Fotomovimiento was also reportedly attacked by police and had his equipment damaged.

In addition, on 18 October, the El País photojournalist, Albert Garcia, was arrested while covering the demonstrations, before being released the next day. Meanwhile the journalist Quico Sallés from El Mundo was reportedly struck in the leg by rubber bullets fired by police and again physically assaulted, along with the photojournalist Juan Carlos Mohr whose equipment was also damaged. The journalists Salvador Cot from El Mundo, and Fermín Grodira reportedly suffered verbal and physical attacks while reporting on the demonstrations and had their cameras damaged. The journalists Emilio Morenati and Bernat Arnangué from the Associated Press were also struck by rubber bullets fired by police.

“It is essential to ensure that the press can report freely on public demonstrations, and I call on the Spanish authorities to thoroughly investigate all incidents involving violence against journalists,” Désir said. “I also urge the authorities to ensure that law enforcement personnel refrain from obstructing the work of journalists, and to ensure their safety at all times.”

The Representative recalled that the “Special Report on Handling of the Media during Political Demonstrations: Observations and Recommendations” published by his Office, states that “law-enforcement officials have a constitutional responsibility not to prevent or obstruct the work of journalists during public demonstrations, and journalists have a right to expect fair and restrained treatment by the police.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 18 and 19 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 19 and 20 October, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The Mission saw damage to civilian properties from gunfire in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and a crater in Pikuzy.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM continued to observe reconstruction of the broken section of the bridge.
• The Mission saw clearing of vegetation as well as military and military-type presence inside the disengagement area near Zolote. It registered ceasefire violations inside both disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region and in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The SMM saw anti-tank mines near government-controlled Vodiane, unexploded ordnance near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske and demining activities on the road between Pervomaisk and Popasna.
• The SMM monitored events related to marking of the European Anti-Trafficking Day.

436496 Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and Hungary’s Ministry of Defence organized a symposium in Budapest from 16 to 18 October 2019 to mark 25 years of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security. This landmark document, signed in the Hungarian capital in 1994, contains key principles and commitments for the organization’s 57 participating States related to security relations between states and to the control of all armed and security forces within a state.

More than 80 participants from OSCE participating States, including state secretaries, senior officers from the armed forces, senior government officials as well as representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and academia came together to reflect on the Code’s importance and to their share experiences on its implementation.

The event was opened by the Head of the Security Policy and Non-proliferation at Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Margit Szücs, and by the Chairperson of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OSCE, Ambassador Ivo Šrámek.

The Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Marcel Peško, recalled that: “the Code of Conduct is a visionary document. This symposium creates an opportunity to engage in a forward-looking dialogue beyond the 25th anniversary.”

The symposium was organized with donor support provided by Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

COPENHAGEN, 21 October 2019 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella have wrapped up a visit to Belgrade, where they held a series of bilateral meetings last week and participated in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

President Tsereteli addressed the IPU, speaking about the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and strengthening international law. He stressed that he is concerned about “a renewed potential for international conflicts, a deteriorating human rights situation globally, and the breakdown of multilateralism in general.”

“Parliamentarians must continue to be a voice of de-escalation and offer creative and concrete solutions,” Tsereteli said. He also advocated a stronger role for civil society organizations, and called for advancing gender mainstreaming and youth participation to provide the opportunity for individuals to improve our institutions and highlight shortcomings.

“It is only by upholding this core mission of parliamentarianism – governing of the people, by the people, for the people – that we can truly strengthen international law and diplomacy, achieve durable peace, protect human rights, address climate change and ensure sustainable economic development so that our children can inherit a better world,” Tsereteli said.

On 16 October, President Tsereteli and Secretary General Montella met with Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU, for discussions on how to enhance co-operation between the OSCE PA and the IPU. The sides discussed concrete plans for a joint meeting, with SG Chungong informing Tsereteli of a regional conference scheduled for next year on counter-terrorism that the OSCE PA could participate in.

Chungong also invited the OSCE PA to participate in the Speakers’ Conference to take place in Vienna 17-20 August 2020. In addition, they discussed practical matters including the IPU’s mechanism of donations used to fund IPU activities.

Watch President Tsereteli’s speech on YouTube or download in PDF format here.

For a press release on Tsereteli and Montella’s Serbian-OSCE PA bilateral meetings in Belgrade, please click here.

Photos of the Belgrade visit are on Flickr

Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE Secretariat and Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, agreed to strengthen their co-operation in combating cross-border crime, trafficking in human beings and addressing migratory challenges, in a Working Arrangement document signed last week.

The document, signed by OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri, covers different areas of mutual interest, including promoting and enhancing good practices in border management, ensuring fundamental rights protection of people at the borders, and continuing to develop capacities to address emerging forms of cross-border crime.

436409 Communication and Media Relations Section

An advanced training course aimed at increasing border guards’ operational awareness to detect forged documents concluded on 18 October 2019 in Skopje.

This five-day training course was organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia. 

The course was held at the Police Training Centre in Idrizovo and was conducted by document experts of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Twenty-one second-line officers had the opportunity to examine travel documents security features, printing techniques and security substrates. They also learned how to better detect imposters.

Exercises focused on the differences between genuine and forged documents, as well as on the effective use of equipment; such as magnifying lenses. High-quality magnifiers were donated to the participants by the OSCE.

This course will be followed by a Train-the-Trainers course in November. This is  part of a series of trainings on the detection of forged travel documents that have been organized by the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit since 2015 in different countries.

VIENNA, 21 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, announced today that his Office will organize a high-level conference on media freedom issues, to be held in Moscow on 6 November. The conference on “Freedom of the Media and Safety of Journalists in the Russian Federation and the OSCE region: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age”, will be organized by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The conference will debate four main topics: freedom of the media and media pluralism in Russia and in the OSCE region; the safety of journalists: new challenges and responses; “fake news”, disinformation: how to tackle them, including through Internet regulation, and international standards on freedom of expression; media self-regulation, fact-checking and the role of journalism, ethical standards and media literacy.

The conference will be opened by Representative Harlem Désir, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, who will both take part in a panel discussion with journalists.

“The conference will bring together representatives of diverse Russian media, including non-state independent media, media experts and representatives of the authorities and institutions of the Russian Federation, to discuss openly media freedom and media development issues, safety of journalists, regulations affecting freedom of expression, self-regulation mechanisms and issues related to disinformation and quality of information in the Russia Federation and the wider OSCE region,” Désir said. “It will be the first such conference organized by my Office in Russia with an open discussion between independent media and government representatives at the highest level.”

The conference will bring together about 200 journalists and representatives from the media and non-governmental organizations, together with international experts, policymakers and representatives of government institutions.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom